Lagos: Man, 35, Bags 14-Year Jail Term For Attempting To Rape 12-Yr-Old Girl 

Kemisola Oye 

A Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday (Thursday 18 January 2023) sentenced a 35-year-old man, Hoya Abraham (alias Star Boy) to 14 years imprisonment for attempting to sexually assault a 12-year-old girl.

Justice Rahman Oshodi sentenced Abraham following his guilty plea to an amended charge of attempted sexual assault by penetration.

Abraham admitted guilt under a plea bargain agreement

Justice Oshodi held that he was satisfied that Abraham understood the nature of the plea bargain and the gravity of the charge against him.

Justice Oshodi noted that Abraham initially pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement on arraignment on 8th August  2021, adding that three prosecution witnesses had testified against him.

The court observed that the victim/survivor, her mother and an investigative police officer had testified against Abraham.

“Her (victim/survivor) evidence was corroborated by the confessional statement of Abraham admitting to the commission of the crime. 

“The survivor, in her testimony, said that the defendant asked her to come over to his house to fry eggs and he ended up having sex with her which resulted in bleeding.

“However, when the case was called today (yesterday), the prosecution informed the court that the defendant had opted for a plea bargain and he was re-arraigned on an amended information dated 18 January”, the judge/ held. 

Justice Oshodi added that evidence presented by the prosecution established an attempt to commit sexual assault by penetration.

“I hereby find the defendant guilty as charged.

“However, I have considered the plea bargain that you signed and the allocutus from your counsel.

“I hereby sentence you to 14 years’ imprisonment which will start from the day of your remand,” the judge ruled. 

Justice Oshodi directed that Abraham’s name be included in the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.

Defence counsel, Mr Nelson Onyejaka had in his allocutus (plea for leniency), prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

Onyejaka told the court that Abraham was remorseful.

State counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo, submitted that the convict committed the offence sometime in July 2019, at Mowo Kekere Elepe in Ikorodu, Lagos.

She said that the convict attempted to have sexual intercourse with the minor in contravention of Section 262 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

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